Abry Jones Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for Georgia DT

Consistency and injuries can dog a player, but does Abry Jones' big frame justify a draft selection? Read through and find out.

Strengths

One of Jones' biggest strengths is his strength. The big man put up 30 reps at the combine, which was enough to place fifth among defensive tackles.

He's also a smart player. When faced against a mobile quarterback on third down, he demonstrated his knowledge of the situation by containing instead of charging, and he ended up stuffing the play.

Jones is also very versatile. He brings a manner of different weapons to inflict damage; he can hold up against the run, provide pressure or drop back in coverage.

Matt Miller Breaks Down Abry Jones

Weaknesses

Jones doesn't strike you as a physical freak. He's a solid athlete, but neither his measurements from Indy nor the tape make your jaw drop in awe of his natural abilities.

However, an ankle injury that required surgery and ended his season in October could have hindered those combine numbers.

Lastly, while he is a good tackler, he isn't very physical. For instance, there isn't any "pop" in his highlight reel.

Intangibles/Character

Jones is a rock. Mark Richt's adolescents haven't always acted up to the standard set forth by guys like Jones, and he let everyone know it publicly (h/t ESPN's Edward Aschoff).

“It’s real frustrating,” Jones said, “but at the end of the day, when you see people who can’t really control themselves off the field [you realize] it was people who weren’t really in it for the whole team the whole time.”

What coach doesn't love that quote?

Tools

Jones is a thick 6'3", 313 pounds, which allowed him to anchor the line at Georgia. He has a large wingspan due to his 35" arms that are aided by his 9.75" hands.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

System

Jones lined up everywhere along the line in Georgia's shifting defense. He played primarily as a 3-4 end or an interior defensive lineman, and even dropped back in coverage from those positions.

Pass Rush

Jones racked up five sacks in his four-year career, according to ESPN. He isn't in the Sharrif Floyd mold, but he can get a push up the middle at times to collapse the pocket.

Against the Run

He's big and strong, allowing him to sit all that weight down and control the line. His wide reach and fairly agile feet allow him to make plays on running backs that don't bang directly into the roadblock he sets up.

Tackling

How many times do I need to mention Jones' range as a tackler? He has the physical (agility, long grasp, and strength) and mental attributes (play recognition and proper positioning) that he uses to widen his tackling radius. When he gets his hands on a ball carrier he generally drags him down, as the 48 tackles during his junior year would attest.

Future Role

Jones will play the big man on the end of a 3-4 scheme or the defensive tackle in a 4-3. He'll be relied on to take up space and stuff the run.